Smart or Cleaver?

06-10-2007

There is this French person I know who does not belive there is a difference between someone being smart and someone being cleaver. I tried to explain the difference, but I did a rather lousy job.

Can someone please give me a good example that contrasts cleaverness and smartness.

And anyone out there who does not know the difference, prepare to be educated.

TrumanGrace · 06-10-2007

In truth, they are synonyms. Colloquially, they have some differences in uses, but technically, the dictionary has similar definitions for them. So it's going to be for usage.

smart- intelligent, having a lot of knowledge. This is the guy who does well on research projects and such.

clever- quick witted. This is the guy who thinks better on the fly.

cleaver- a large, heavy knife such as one used by butchers to cut meat into joints or pieces. This is the thing that butchers wear chain-mail gloves to avoid cutting appendages off.

06-10-2007

Whoops. I didn't mean cleaver.

Eviscerator · 06-10-2007

Being smart is avoiding trouble. Being clever is the ability to get out of it.

On the other hand, hacking people with a cleaver is just fuin.

No-Man · 06-10-2007

I think more people should be cleaver. There's not much a smart guy can do with a cleaver through that all-important "brain" of his.

genderhazard · 06-10-2007

How about this for a distinction.

A smart person knows vast amounts of information usually on a variety or subjects.
A clever person applies that knowledge, usually in inventive or original ways.

And since it seems to be the thing to do.

If you weren’t very clever, and chopped off a finger with a cleaver, I’m betting it would really smart.

Vengeance1701 · 06-10-2007

Haz...... damn, that pun was painful. As was my alliteration

genderhazard · 06-11-2007

I can only work with the material I'm given.

And if that was painful how about this joke.

Two men run into a bar.
The third one ducks.

I know more a visual gag.

Stubson · 06-11-2007

How about this:

The Pope, a Nazi, a racist and a child molester walk into a bar. And that's just the first guy.

Ridiculous and exploitative, but good for a cheap laugh.

06-11-2007

Time for me to have some fun.

Smart - It's what you know. It's Knowledge you learn.

Clever - It's taking what you know and useing it. Knowledge you use.

In other words, Smart useful. Clever has 2 options. Getting out of trouble or getting more into it. AKA a smart ass.

Sailordolly · 06-11-2007

This reminds me of what my grandfather used to say about the difference between intelligence and wisdom.

An intelligent man can build a weapon. A wise man knows the right moment to use it.

06-10-2007	#1
joeman Guest Posts: n/a	Smart or Cleaver? There is this French person I know who does not belive there is a difference between someone being smart and someone being cleaver. I tried to explain the difference, but I did a rather lousy job. Can someone please give me a good example that contrasts cleaverness and smartness. And anyone out there who does not know the difference, prepare to be educated.

06-10-2007	#2
TrumanGrace Process Disciple Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,199	In truth, they are synonyms. Colloquially, they have some differences in uses, but technically, the dictionary has similar definitions for them. So it's going to be for usage. smart- intelligent, having a lot of knowledge. This is the guy who does well on research projects and such. clever- quick witted. This is the guy who thinks better on the fly. cleaver- a large, heavy knife such as one used by butchers to cut meat into joints or pieces. This is the thing that butchers wear chain-mail gloves to avoid cutting appendages off. Last edited by TrumanGrace; 06-10-2007 at 09:16 AM.

06-10-2007	#4
Eviscerator FLAME Magnet! Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,851	Being smart is avoiding trouble. Being clever is the ability to get out of it. On the other hand, hacking people with a cleaver is just fuin. __________________ Name:'Eviscerator' D.O.B: 1985 Age: 22 Gender: Male Occupation: Evil Minion of Wal-Mart Species: Homo Sapiens Sapiens Alignment: Neutral Listening To: Judas Priest - Burn in Hell

06-10-2007	#5
No-Man Process Disciple Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,197	I think more people should be cleaver. There's not much a smart guy can do with a cleaver through that all-important "brain" of his. __________________ "Because we're made out of wishful thinking and puppy farts!" -- Jack on why banality is bad for changelings

06-10-2007	#6
genderhazard Spell I bought is work'n Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,095	How about this for a distinction. A smart person knows vast amounts of information usually on a variety or subjects. A clever person applies that knowledge, usually in inventive or original ways. And since it seems to be the thing to do. If you weren’t very clever, and chopped off a finger with a cleaver, I’m betting it would really smart. Last edited by genderhazard; 06-10-2007 at 02:19 PM. Reason: spelling

06-10-2007	#7
Vengeance1701 Modest Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,998	Haz...... damn, that pun was painful. As was my alliteration

06-11-2007	#8
genderhazard Spell I bought is work'n Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,095	I can only work with the material I'm given. And if that was painful how about this joke. Two men run into a bar. The third one ducks. I know more a visual gag.

06-11-2007	#9
Stubson Lurker Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 16	How about this: The Pope, a Nazi, a racist and a child molester walk into a bar. And that's just the first guy. Ridiculous and exploitative, but good for a cheap laugh.

06-11-2007	#10
Flip M Guest Posts: n/a	Time for me to have some fun. Smart - It's what you know. It's Knowledge you learn. Clever - It's taking what you know and useing it. Knowledge you use. In other words, Smart useful. Clever has 2 options. Getting out of trouble or getting more into it. AKA a smart ass.

06-11-2007	#11
Sailordolly The Tiny Sailor Senshi Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 360	This reminds me of what my grandfather used to say about the difference between intelligence and wisdom. An intelligent man can build a weapon. A wise man knows the right moment to use it.